Coinbase Sees Crypto Moving to Finance’s Core in 2026 Outlook
Coinbase Institutional's 2026 Crypto Market Outlook frames the industry at a pivotal turning point. The report points to growing policy clarity, rising institutional participation and converging infrastructure as catalysts that could move digital assets deeper into the core of the global financial system over the coming year, calling the potential shift 'extraordinary, transformative'. Improved regulatory definitions, custody solutions and interoperable rails are singled out as the practical enablers lowering barriers for banks, asset managers and corporate treasuries.
That matters because greater institutional integration tends to bring larger capital flows, expanded product availability and closer linkages with traditional finance — changes that can boost liquidity and support market maturation. Coinbase cautions that 2026 will be a structural build-out year: progress will depend on regulatory signals and infrastructure deployments. Market participants and platform builders should watch those developments closely as they will shape whether crypto's institutional role solidifies or remains nascent.